Chapter 2
Lucy’s Place - Fort Worth, Texas
Jet lag is part of the deal she never bargained for. If she knew that being in three different time zones would ruin her body clock this much, she could have opted not to get away back then. But grief is a jerk. It lulls you into believing that crying is its ultimate rest. Only to devour you whole at every chance it gets until you surrender and learn how to live with it. Back then, Lucy thought a life of travel out of Fort Worth was the most sensible thing that would make her get over her loss. Everything about this place was a painful reminder of her dearest mother. It was just too much.
Lying on her bed, she puts an arm over her eyes and draws in a heavy breath. “I’m sorry it took me a while to come visit. I got scared. But I’m here now,” she whispers in guilt as she pictures an image of her mother standing across her bed. Her hands placed on her hips, eyes narrowing, lips thinning and shaking her head with Lucy's absolute obstinacy. “I met someone,” she continues, “well, not ‘met’ met. I got overwhelmed by shock and worry that I forgot to ask for her name,” she scrunches her nose at her silly predicament.
Her mother, Lucia, was the moral compass of their family. When she was alive, her top priority was the well-being of her children. Her father chose a life of hard work. To keep Stellar Energy Group, the family-owned company, one of the top businesses in the oil and energy industry in the Midwest. Her mother was Lucy’s anchor. The only reason she obeys the rules and standards her father has set for her and her siblings. When she died, she took that obedience to her grave.
Lucy closes her eyes to prevent warm tears from rolling down. It was a devastating loss for all of them. Her father disapproved of her decision to leave home and later pursue a career in circuit racing. Lenny, her oldest brother, and Lauren, her sister stepped in to help her plead her case. Eventually, they convinced their father but only if she agrees to follow two rules.
“Call as soon as you land,” and, “Breakfast at home the next day.”
They are not too difficult to follow. Not at first. Not when the topic of their breakfast talks is her mom. No matter how sensitive it gets around the events leading to her death. They seemed to have formed a silent agreement not to talk about it unless she initiated it. Lately, the topic over breakfast gravitates more to her siblings. The excellent progress in their chosen careers and ultimately, her “lack” of one. The sore topic of all is Lauren’s remarkable rise to the executive team at Stellar amidst rumors and criticisms of her marriage to then executive assistant for operations. Another high bar among the endless ones she set for Lucy.
Giving up on sleep, she reaches over her phone to the bedside table. The clock reads 3:30 am. Too early to wait for the sunrise by the poolside. She unlocks her phone, glosses over a ton of voicemails left by her father and reads through some text messages from her sister and her brother Liam.
Liam: Luce, call/text me when you’ve safely landed.
Lauren: Hey... Have you landed? Do you need someone to pick you up?
Liam: 3 weeks into the wedding prep and you haven’t met my bride yet. CALL ME.
Lauren: Have a speech prepared for Liam’s wedding. Lenny will be coming but he says you’re the best person to give the toast since you’re closer to the groom. He’s got a point you know.
Liam: Please don’t tell me I’ll be stood up by my own best woman/lady on MY OWN WEDDING!
Lauren: Dad already knows. There’s no use ignoring our calls and messages anymore. I’ll be at your place after work.
True enough, her sister was by her doorstep earlier that evening. She was looking all too regal in her navy-blue suit.
“He wants to settle business with you… You’ve been here for days, Luce… You agreed to the rules,” Lucy recalls the way Lauren’s forehead wrinkles as she looks past her defiance.
She was never bothered about the possible discussion of taking an active role in the family’s company, until now. Lauren delivering a message is a message in itself. Lauren is everything that Lucy is not. Smart. Responsible. Ambitious. Perfect. She gets it. Her father sent a foreboding challenge wrapped in the prettiest paper he knew she’ll never tear into pieces. Because he knows Lucy adores her sister to the core. Despite the incessant comparison between them growing up.
It was the other reason why she wanted to leave. It was a chance to get away from strict rules and great expectations. Away from the stress and pressure of making appearances. And out of Lauren's faultless shadow. But still with the benefits of carrying the family’s last name. Money and a few social connections. She suspects her father is getting a hint of this reason, especially after she lost one of his prized cars in an illegal street race in Tokyo.
She winces at the thought. It was another conversation she was trying to dodge. The cause of her delayed homecoming. Truthfully, if not for Liam’s annoying passive-aggressive tactics, she had no plans of attending his wedding if that would lead to a the discussion about her father’s 911 turbo. She feels stupid for thinking she’ll be undetected by flying home unannounced.
“10 am. The conference rooms. Wear something appropriate.”
Lucy chuckles at Lauren’s reminder as she rises from her bed. A counterplan brewing in her head. May not be the soundest plan but a bet she’s willing to take.
--- --- ---
Lucy pulls the comforter halfway over the bed then checks herself in the mirror one more time before heading out to attend her business meeting. She grins at her reflection, tightens the laces of her white Chucks, secures the latches of her denim jean short overalls atop a red, body-hugging, mock neck sleeveless shirt, and fastens her baseball cap to collect her long curls in a ponytail. She opens a drawer and gathers her wrist guards, knee and elbow pads then shoves them all inside her rucksack along with her pair of rollerblades and wallet. She circles around the bedside table, slides her keys in her pocket, raises her phone then places a call to Boone’s Café.
Jesse: Boone’s Café. This is Jesse at your service.
Lucy (high pitched voice): Hey, Jesse. Taking pre-orders today? Understaffed still?
Jesse (chuckles): Excuse me, who is this?
Lucy (rolls her eyes): Your favorite trainee.
Jesse (sounds amused): Yeah? So, bored roller skating in Barcelona? Or was it some dark circuit racing in Dubai?
Lucy: Hmmm... Just somewhere fun.
Jesse (shakes his head): And, dangerous?
Lucy (corrects him): Exciting.
Jesse: Alright, Luce. What are you bribing your dad with today?
Lucy (giggles): Hey, it’s not a bribe. It’s being thoughtful.
Jesse: Then, I hope being thoughtful can save you from an earful of gentle reminders.
Lucy (crosses her fingers): Yeah, sure. Well, that’ll be one regular sized americano and one tall macc. I’ll pick them up in, 30 minutes?
Jesse: Gotcha. Anything else?
Lucy: Oh, can you put them in a coffee tray, please? Thank you.
Jesse: Sure. That’s all?
Lucy: Ummm… Can I pull up in my usual spot?
Jesse: That’s for employees only. Are you coming back to finish your training?
Lucy: That’s the plan. If you still need an assistant.
Jesse: We’ll talk about it. But you get to park on the same spot as my business partner.
Lucy: Cool! Thanks!
Jesse: Welcome back, Luce.
--- --- ---
Boone’s Café parking lot
Once parked in her reserved space, Lucy gears up for outdoor skating. The distance to the café is good for warming up and reacquainting with her balance. She fastens all Velcro straps around her wrists, elbows and knees. She tightens the laces of her skates. Satisfied with the snugness of the fit, she flings her rucksack over her shoulders, locks her car doors, and glides through the direction of the café.
She decides to glide around the parking lot for a few rounds, confident that she still has the luxury of time. She executed a few tricks here and there. Allows the rush of the morning wind through her nose. Permits the warmth of the sun to touch her outstretched arms. She closes her eyes for a moment to revel at the calming effect of the familiar smell and feel of this place. Home. An effortless grin draws her face in amusements as she skates around like nothing can ever ruin this day. Not even the impending war of words with her father.
She's gliding her way to the cafe’s counter, notices a slender figure pacing in a corner. Phone on the left ear, right hand partly covering thin lips. The ruthless but gorgeous stranger at The Rockwood! A smile of delight begins to cross her face then bites her lower lip at the sight of a skin tone medical brace wrapped around the stranger’s palm and wrist.
--- --- ---
Boone’s Café
“No, Jane!” Kate says under her breath as she catches a pair of expressive round eyes staring at her. She turns to face the tinted glass windows, “I am not ‘baby-sitting’ a self-entitled princess! Not happening!” rolling her eyes as she notices the reflection of a geared skater on the window getting taller. “Gotta go. See you next week,” she says fumbling at her phone in a clumsy attempt to turn it off with her injured hand.
“I told you, flicking your wrist will add to the injury,” Kate hears her say, watching at the reflection trying not to wobble beside her. She's clutching the left strap of her rucksack then points at Kate’s braced hand.
Kate turns. She stiffens her jaw to reign herself from laughing, “And I remember telling you, I’ll handle it,” she glares instead, then raises her braced hand onto the skater's face.
A wrist guard protected hand reaches to hold Kate’s injured hand, long thick lashes blinking steadily straight through her black rimmed glasses, “I am truly, sincerely and truthfully sorry.”
“Tall chagaccino for Kate!”
The barista yells her order. Kate blinks, pulls her hand from the warm touch of the skater’s hold and walks to the counter. She picks up her cup, mumbles a trembling ‘thank you’ and stutters in her steps through the door. Aware of the lingering gaze on her back.
--- --- ---
Lucy, pinned in her place, looks on. The gorgeous stranger is wearing a white top with black piping along the collar and short sleeves, hem tucked neatly in a relaxed fit black pants adorned with buttons aligning the pockets on each side. Her black stilettos added more inches to her height. Her long blonde streaked hair pulled back in a tight ponytail.
“Earth to Lucy! Hello!” A booming voice pulls her back. She grins at her own momentary daze, pushes her skates towards the counter to pick up her tray of coffee.
“Hey, Allan. What did you say her name is?” she asks the barista, red warmth crawling around her neck and ears.
“Who? Blonde? Six feet tall in killer heels?”
“Uh-huh.” She says, tugging the brim of her cap. White teeth in full display, eyes trailing the stranger’s back through the door, “Is she a regular here?”
“Kate? Yeah,” Allan smirks, “Oh no. I know that look!”
Kate. Her name is Kate. The ruthless, gorgeous woman has a name. Kate. She can hear Allan shout at Jesse. Something about re-training. But the only thing she clearly understands is the loud fluttering of butterflies in her belly. “Ruthless. Still ruthless,” she murmurs in a smile. Ruthless be damned.
--- --- ---
Stellar Energy Corporate Offices – The Finance Unit
Kate has been glued to one and the same spreadsheet for over an hour. She’s still fuming at Jane for submitting her name as the potential financial analyst mentor of the incoming trainee, Lucy Tara. The youngest of the Tara brood. Infamous for her jet setter lifestyle and seemingly lack of interest in learning anything related to managing their multimillion-dollar family company. Kate doesn’t have qualms about getting paired with a newbie. Most temps hired in their unit are motivated to learn and eager to prove themselves as early as day one. A spoiled thirtyish heiress for a trainee is something else. Kate already feels exhausted thinking of all the possible scenarios of approving and disapproving budget requests. Crunching numbers and breaking overachieving project officers are her jam. She’s got no time to babysit a laid-back princess! No matter how effective and efficient Jane says she is.
As if this day could get any better. She saw the tiny human who caused her an agonizing injury on her right wrist. Looking adorable with her curls tamed by the latch of her baseball cap and all concerned with her round, hazel-colored eyes adorned with thick long lashes. Kate shakes her head as she catches herself caressing the top of her hand where the tiny human held her as she apologized for the incident at The Rockwood a few days ago. Admittedly, she was moved by the sincerity in the apology, knowing she was more in tears out of grief rather than the pain she felt on her wrist.
She takes a sip of the chagaccino. Clenched her jaw as she tasted it cold. Gulps down the remaining amount and toss the empty cup in the trash bin. She pulls a neatly folded cloth out of its case and wipes her glasses for the third time. She folds the cloth in equal parts, returns it inside the case, pushes the bridge of her glasses on a comfortable spot over her nose then huffs a breath as she starts working on the spreadsheet on her monitor. She is so close in fulfilling her plans... The last thing she needs is a distraction like Lucy Tara.